MME overload or underload mitigation by MME VNF apparatus and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe apparatuses and methods for mobility management entity (MME) overload or underload mitigation using an MME virtual network function (VNF). Various embodiments may include one or more processors to execute instructions to process a notification from a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to determine instantiation of a MME as a VNF, add the MME to an MME pool, and assign a value to an application parameter of the MME VNF. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A network function virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) comprising:
 one or more storage media having instructions; and 
 one or more processors, coupled with the one or more storage media to execute the instructions to: 
 process a virtual network function (VNF) instantiation request from a network manager (NM); and 
 direct a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to instantiate a mobility management entity (MME) VNF in response to the VNF instantiation request. 
 
     
     
       2. The NFVO of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further to execute the instructions to send a resource allocation request to a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM). 
     
     
       3. The NFVO of  claim 2 , wherein the resource allocation request includes at least one of a compute allocation parameter or a storage allocation parameter. 
     
     
       4. The NFVO of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further to execute the instructions to send an acknowledgement to the NM indicating MME VNF instantiation is completed. 
     
     
       5. An element manager (EM) comprising:
 receive circuitry to receive a notification from a virtual network function manager (VNFM); and 
 control circuitry, coupled with the receive circuitry, to:
 process the notification to determine that a mobility management entity (MME) has been instantiated as a virtual network function (VNF); and 
 add the MME to an MME pool. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The EM of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is to configure the MME with one or more application specific parameters. 
     
     
       7. The EM of  claim 5 , wherein the MME pool is in a long term evolution (LTE) environment or a fifth generation (5G) environment. 
     
     
       8. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution of the instructions by one or more processors cause an element manager to:
 process a request relating to a service level of a mobility management entity (MME) virtual network function (VNF); and 
 remove the MME VNF from a MME VNF pool based at least in part on the request. 
 
     
     
       9. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the MME pool is in a long term evolution (LTE) environment or a fifth generation (5G) environment. 
     
     
       10. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution of the instructions by one or more processors cause a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to:
 process an instantiation request for a mobility management entity (MME) virtual network function (VNF); and 
 send a notification to an element manager (EM) notifying the EM of the MME VNF. 
 
     
     
       11. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instantiation request is from a network function virtualization orchestrator (NFVO). 
     
     
       12. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the VNFM to send an acknowledgement to a NFVO acknowledging completion of the MME VNF instantiation. 
     
     
       13. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the VNFM to process a message relating to termination of the MME VNF; and terminate the MME VNF based at least in part on the message. 
     
     
       14. A virtual network function manager (VNFM) comprising:
 means for processing an instantiation request for a mobility management entity (MME) virtual network function (VNF); and 
 means for sending a notification to an element manager (EM) notifying the EM of the MME VNF. 
 
     
     
       15. The VNFM of  claim 14 , wherein the instantiation request is from a network function virtualization orchestrator (NFVO). 
     
     
       16. The VNFM of  claim 14 , further including means for sending an acknowledgement to a NFVO acknowledging completion of MME VNF instantiation. 
     
     
       17. The VNFM of  claim 14 , further including means for processing a message relating to termination of the MME VNF, and means for terminating the MME VNF based at least in part on the message.